About St. Valentine · Redford, Michigan
St. Valentine Parish is a Roman Catholic community in Redford Township, Michigan, founded in 1950 by Cardinal Edward Mooney. The parish celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2022 and now worships at 25881 Dow Ave as part of the Mother of Divine Love Family of Parishes in the Archdiocese of Detroit, alongside Our Lady of Loretto, St. Genevieve-St. Maurice, and St. John XXIII. It is served by Pallottine (S.A.C.) and CSMA priests and continues to operate St. Valentine School.
- Established
- 1950
- Patron
- St. Valentine
- Rector
- Rev. Manuel Fernandes, S.A.C.
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Detroit
Why belong here
St. Valentine is a long-standing Redford Township parish with a real sense of community: a parish school, an active Faith Formation program, an annual Holy Week Passion Play performed by students and alumni, Eucharistic Adoration on first Fridays, and the warmth of being part of the Mother of Divine Love Family of Parishes. Worshippers are welcomed to weekend Masses, weekday Masses in either the church or the school chapel, and a Saturday Vigil — all offered in a church whose stained-glass windows walk through the sacraments and Gospels.
Mass times at St. Valentine
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Friday 6:00 pm – 6:30 pm (church)
- Saturday 3:30 pm (church)
Adoration times
- First Friday: Adoration begins immediately following the 8:30 am Mass and concludes with Benediction at 10:00 am in church
Parish History
St. Valentine Parish was established in 1950 by Cardinal Edward Mooney as one of four Catholic churches that came to line Beech Daly Road in Redford Township. Early Masses were celebrated at Bulman Elementary School; the permanent church was later built and dedicated by Cardinal Mooney. The community grew through the post-war decades and built a parish school immediately north of the church, where a statue of the Blessed Mother still greets visitors. The parish reached its 75th anniversary in 2022.
- Founded 1950 by Cardinal Edward Mooney
- First Masses at Bulman Elementary School
- One of four Catholic churches on Beech Daly Road, Redford Township
- 75th anniversary celebrated in 2022
The Church Building
The church is anchored by a Sacred Heart of Jesus side altar with the Holy Oils, monochrome Stations of the Cross between the columns and windows, and a Good Shepherd image in what was the former baptistry. A statue of St. Valentine holding the palm frond of martyrdom stands in front of the church, with St. Anne and the Child Mary in a corner of the nave. Modern stained-glass windows line the nave — each panel depicts a different sacrament or Gospel moment and is paired with an explanatory text. Stained-glass also fills the side doors.
- Sacred Heart of Jesus side altar with Holy Oils
- Monochrome Stations of the Cross
- Good Shepherd image in former baptistry
- Statue of St. Valentine with palm of martyrdom
- Modern stained-glass windows depicting the sacraments and Gospels
Clergy & Pastoral Leadership
The parish is currently served by Pallottine (S.A.C.) and CSMA priests within the Mother of Divine Love Family of Parishes. Fr. Ralph Besterwitch, S.A.C. became the first Pallottine pastor in 2007, and was followed by Fr. Socorro Fernandes, S.A.C. in 2010. Fr. Fernandes also took on nearby Our Lady of Loretto as pastor in 2013. The present moderator/priest in solidum team includes Rev. Manuel Fernandes, S.A.C. and Rev. Tomasz Wilisowski, C.S.M.A.
- Current pastor: Rev. Manuel Fernandes, S.A.C.
- Rev. Tomasz Wilisowski, C.S.M.A.
- First Pallottine pastor: Fr. Ralph Besterwitch, S.A.C. (2007–2010)
- Fr. Socorro Fernandes, S.A.C. (2010–2013+; also pastor of Our Lady of Loretto from 2013)
Mother of Divine Love Family of Parishes
St. Valentine is clustered with three neighboring parishes in the Mother of Divine Love Family of Parishes: Our Lady of Loretto (Redford), St. Genevieve-St. Maurice (Livonia), and St. John XXIII (Redford). The families share sacramental milestones — a bishop celebrates Confirmation for the family — and the parishes collaborate on youth and faith-formation programming. The Family is part of the South Region / Northwest Wayne Vicariate of the Archdiocese of Detroit.
- Our Lady of Loretto Parish, Redford (sister parish 1.5 mi north)
- St. Genevieve-St. Maurice Parish, Livonia
- St. John XXIII Parish, Redford
- Region: South Region, Northwest Wayne Vicariate
St. Valentine School
St. Valentine School is the parish's Catholic elementary school, located immediately north of the church on the parish campus. A statue of the Blessed Mother stands in front of the school building. School students participate in parish liturgical life, including the annual Holy Week Passion Play.
- Parish elementary school on the parish campus
- Statue of the Blessed Mother in front of the school
- Students take part in the Holy Week Passion Play
Faith Formation & Youth
The parish runs a Faith Formation / Religious Education program whose students join with school students and Passion Play alumni to perform the annual Holy Week Passion Play in the church. Confirmation preparation is done together with the sister parishes in the Family of Parishes; Bishop Monforton confirmed students from St. Valentine, St. Genevieve and St. Maurice together at a Wednesday Confirmation Mass in March.
- Faith Formation / Religious Education program
- Annual Holy Week Passion Play with students and alumni
- Family-wide Confirmation celebrated by Bishop Monforton
Notable Moments & Visits
The parish has welcomed notable diocesan visitors in recent years: Bishop Hanchon celebrated the Traveling Catholic Mass Mob visit in February, and Bishop Monforton was the celebrant at a Confirmation Mass for the Families of Parishes. The parish also marked its 75th anniversary in 2022 with a year of celebration.
- Bishop Hanchon celebrated a Mass Mob visit (February)
- Bishop Monforton presided at Confirmation Mass for the Families of Parishes (March)
- 75th anniversary celebrated in 2022
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Ralph Besterwitch, S.A.C.2007 – July 1, 2010
First Pallottine (S.A.C.) pastor of St. Valentine.
- Fr. Socorro Fernandes, S.A.C.July 1, 2010 – 2013+
Installed as pastor of nearby Our Lady of Loretto in 2013 while continuing to serve St. Valentine.